WASHINGTON - Adding an unusual proposal to the searing debate over illegal immigration, U.S. Rep. John Culberson of Houston introduced a bill late Thursday to let Texas and other border states establish armed militias to catch people trying to illegally cross from Mexico and Canada.

The bill, which he called a "thunderclap," is more than a solitary, symbolic gesture by the Republican lawmaker: It has 46 Republican co-sponsors.

It comes as the White House, Congress and local officials are becoming increasingly immersed in efforts to find the best way to secure the borders and perhaps also establish a "guest worker" program to let immigrants stay in the United States as temporary legal residents.

Gov. Rick Perry indicated he is open to Culberson's idea.

"Illegal immigration has become a pervasive problem in this country, and it is a drain on our economy," Perry said. "Regardless of the mechanism, the federal government must provide a stronger presence along the border and must provide substantially more funding for border protection."

Among Culberson's co-sponsors are 10 Texans, including freshmen Reps. Ted Poe of Humble and Michael McCaul of Austin.

The measure's stated goal is to let governors create a Border Protection Corps of citizens to shield the country from "uniquely devious, criminal, cowardly and fanatically determined" terrorist organizations.

Culberson said the militia provisions in the Constitution must be invoked because the U.S. Border Patrol lacks the resources to deal with any surge in illegal crossings by people who may have ties to terrorist groups.

"The tools are all there in the Constitution," Culberson said. "America's best defense against terrorists trying to sneak into our country is to trust the good hearts and the good sense of American citizens."

He pointed to the militialike Texas Rangers, which formed in the 1830s and had several violent clashes with Mexicans and robbers in the border area in the early 1900s.

In addition to serving as an anti-terrorism measure, Culberson's bill appears to be aimed at stopping illegal immigration by those without suspected terrorist ties.

It would essentially create an authorized version of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, the Arizona-based group that sent hundreds of volunteers to patrol the state's border with Mexico and has plans to expand to Texas and California.

The militias would require participants to be free of criminal background or history of mental illness. They would be authorized to "use any means and any force authorized by state law" to stop illegal crossers and hand them over to federal authorities.

Funding for the militias would come from some of the unspent portions of the $6.8 billion set aside by the federal government for emergency workers who would be among the first to respond to terrorist acts.

The money would also go toward detaining, housing and transporting those who are taken into custody. In 2004, Border Patrol agents intercepted 1.1 million people illegally entering the country.

Immigration rights advocates and other critics of the Minutemen could not be reached for comment after Culberson announced his bill.

They want the illegals coming over! It's all a show the bill. What was it maybe a week ago the Senate vote on funding to hire new BP Agents. The Senate voted against the funding of 2K more agents.You'll see more bills like this only to die as the election time comes around. It's only to get theirself reelected they care less about our safety!

DeseoUnTaco

July 30, 2005, 07:59 PM

This is why the Minutemen are now doing criminal background checks and requiring a $50. They are trying to get an official relationship with the Border Patrol, and they are trying to get a bill like this passed. Obviously if they are going to have any official recognition they will need to have background checks and that kind of formality. It seems like "the powers that be" are considering allowing the Minutemen some kind of powers of arrest or other official-type powers. I'm not sure what's really on the table (if anything) but obviously there is a connection between this bill, some of what W has been saying about the subject, and the background check in the earlier thread.

I do like the idea of volunteer citizen law enforcement, but I'm not sure how I feel about the minutemen. I live within a short distance of the border and there are two illegals I can see within 20 feet of where I am now as I type this very post (yes, literally) and I think that immigration, including some degree of illegal immigration, is part of what made up this country. We got perspectives and talents and hard workers from all over the world, and some came in through the front door and some came in through the back door.

Pepole criticize illegal immigration saying that it allows terrorism and drugs to come accross the border. As for terrorism, I'm not worried about it. It seems irrelevant to my life. As for drug smuggling, the only countries anywhere that have ever rid themselves of narcotics are places like China, Singapore, and Taiwan where they simply shoot everyone who is involved, and that's not compatible with our values. We will continue to have drugs available here no matter what happens on the border.

hifi

July 30, 2005, 08:02 PM

I don't like this type of stuff because it gives the impression that we weren't militia before. And the lefties go, OMG look what they're doing now!!! And gives them another excuse to wet the bed.

lostone1413

July 30, 2005, 08:08 PM

Many come from a third world country to turn us into a third world country. Every LEO i've known in AZ has said at least 50% of his arrest are illegals. Time to stop the illegals from coming over by any means. You might not stop the drug and gang troubles we have but they will be allot less

Eightball

July 30, 2005, 08:49 PM

The tools are all there in the Constitution," Culberson said. "America's best defense against terrorists trying to sneak into our country is to trust the good hearts and the good sense of American citizensIt's about time a politician realized that. If the militia is armed, I wonder what legal loopholes they'll have to jump through to be able to use the "tools of their trade" :scrutiny: ? If it was a volunteer organization that the gov't allowed, and it was a BYOG kinda thing, sign me up. Illegal immigration may be fine and dandy by some folks' rationale--but, the "illegal" part gets me :fire: . If they want to come in, they could at least do so the legal way :fire: . If there's no threat other tahn deportation, why would they want to wait in line? An uncle of mine has some of his employees deported every so often (lives in TX), and they say "hey, i'll be back next week, keep my job open for me" :uhoh: . I'm all for an "anti-illegal" "militia", where do I enlist?

Alex45ACP

July 30, 2005, 08:58 PM

Uh, wait a minute, I thought the entire purpose of the 2nd Amendment is to allow states to form their own militias :rolleyes: :p

Lennyjoe

July 30, 2005, 09:40 PM

I live within a short distance of the border and there are two illegals I can see within 20 feet of where I am now as I type this very post
And what, if anything, are you doing about it? Just letting them walk on I presume. :confused:

White Horseradish

July 30, 2005, 09:53 PM

I do like the idea of volunteer citizen law enforcement, but I'm not sure how I feel about the minutemen. I live within a short distance of the border and there are two illegals I can see within 20 feet of where I am now as I type this very post (yes, literally) and I think that immigration, including some degree of illegal immigration, is part of what made up this country. We got perspectives and talents and hard workers from all over the world, and some came in through the front door and some came in through the back door. If anyone wants in here they can stand in the damn line, like I did. Literally. When I was getting my green card I spent a night in a line outside the Federal plaza in New York City. It is not too much to ask for people to follow the rules.

Illegal immigration is bad for the country, since we don't know who is coming in. Many gangbangers come through that way. Illegal immigration is bad for the immigrants themselves. The ones that do get jobs have no recourse against unscrupulous employers.

Those unscrupulous employers and the coyotes are the only ones who really benefit from illegal immigration.

Brett Bellmore

July 30, 2005, 10:38 PM

It comes as the White House, Congress and local officials are becoming increasingly immersed in efforts to find the best way to secure the borders

Well, efforts to defuse public demand that the borders be secured. Which is not at all the same thing.

ak47nevada

July 30, 2005, 10:42 PM

I'm sure the "militias" will be mostly staffed with "mexican"-americans.

wingman

July 30, 2005, 10:48 PM

Those unscrupulous employers and the coyotes are the only ones who really benefit from illegal immigration.
You got it WH the wealthy profit at the expense of the taxpayer.

NIGHTWATCH

July 30, 2005, 10:59 PM

Congress? :scrutiny:

Why cant the governors of these border states activate the militia?

Standing Wolf

July 30, 2005, 11:18 PM

...I think that immigration, including some degree of illegal immigration, is part of what made up this country.

Legal immigrants are one of America's greatest strengths. Illegal aliens are a cancer.

LAR-15

July 31, 2005, 02:37 PM

States could do it too I'm sure.

beerslurpy

July 31, 2005, 02:58 PM

Actually yeah, since when do the governors need permission to muster the militia? Its their militia after all.

How can they be afraid of lawsuits with soverign immunity and all. Wouldnt that be a big can of worms? If militia volunteers started being able to credibly claim sovereign immunity against suits for their wrongdoing? I could see that becoming a model for correcting all sorts of injustices.

Shweboner

July 31, 2005, 04:14 PM

Those unscrupulous employers and the coyotes are the only ones who really benefit from illegal immigration.

Oh, yeah and dont forget the government.

all of those taxes withheld never to be refunded....

hell, if they booted all of the stupid illegals who are giving 1/2 their checks to the gov't, they'd probably increase OUR taxes to make up the difference...